Image Processing to Improve Detection of Mesial Temporal Sclerosis in Adults

In this retrospective case-control study, we investigated whether an image-processing algorithm designed to exaggerate the intensity of diseased hippocampi on FLAIR images can improve the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver reliability of radiologists in detecting mesial temporal sclerosis-related hippocampal signal alteration. Herein, we share the results of this study that showed that the image processing improved the confidence of radiologists in detecting mesial temporal sclerosis-related signal alteration, allowing an improved sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver reliability.

DW-MRI of liver lesions: can a single ADC-value represent the entire lesion?

AIM

To evaluate whether focal liver lesions (FLLs) exhibit a homogeneous appearance on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and whether there is inter-section variation in the calculated ADC values of FLLs (inter-section range).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-eight patients with 128 FLLs (70 benign, 58 malignant) who underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI were included. Two observers evaluated variation of signal intensity of each FLL within each ADC map image (intra-section) and among different ADC map images through the lesion (inter-section). ADC values of each FLL and neighbouring liver parenchyma were measured on all sections. The inter-section range of FLLs was compared with the neighbouring liver parenchyma.

RESULTS

Intra-section inhomogeneity was noted in 39.8% (97/244 sections) and 38.9% (95/244) of benign lesions, and 61% (114/187 sections) and 61.5% (115/187) of malignant lesions, by observer 1 and observer 2, respectively. Inter-section inhomogeneity was noted in 25.7% (18/70) and 27.1% (19/70) of benign lesions, and 51.7% (30/58) and 50% (29/58) of malignant lesions, by observer 1 and observer 2, respectively. The inter-section range for both benign (0.28 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and malignant (0.25 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) FLLs were significantly greater than that of liver parenchyma surrounding benign (0.16 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, p < 0.001) and malignant (0.14 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, p = 0.01) FLLs.

CONCLUSION

Due to intra-/inter-section variations in ADC values of benign and malignant FLLs, a single ADC value may not reliably represent the entire lesion.

Microscopic observations of amalgams carved by different methods and subsequently polished

Occlusal amalgam restorations placed in extracted deciduous molars were studied using an electron microscope. The fillings were carved only or both carved and burnished, and all were subsequently polished. Observations were made before and after polishing, and the results emphasized the effects of carving, burnishing, and polishing on the surface texture and marginal integrity of amalgam fillings.